I teach English at a local university, and I've noticed that more and more of my students reach out to me with mental health issues. They are my Katrina kids, and I worry so much about them and their families. We have to ask: Are insurance companies allowing psychiatrists and therapists to do their jobs without the hindrance of policy restrictions? What about those who are uninsured? The state of Louisiana needs to do more for them, not less.

When I teach New Orleans literature, we always read a wonderful, heart-wrenching Neighborhood Story Project memoir by Kareem Kennedy. When he tells of being shot due to mistaken identity, I ask students if they know of anyone who suffered from similar circumstances due to gun violence in our city. Kareem Kennedy survived, but invariably a number of my students' friends, family members and neighbors were not so lucky.

The writing is on the wall, and it is written in blood. We must make changes to government policies and to insurance policies. Most importantly, gun laws restricting the use of automatic weapons need to be put in place. This is my prayer this Christmas.